OVERVIEW: The Great Network is an ancient web of
routes and gates, where sentient trains can take you anywhere in the galaxy in
the blink of an eye.

But the Network is also a hazardous mess of twists and turns, and nothing is as
it seems. So when petty thief and railhead Zen Starling is hired by the
mysterious Raven, the job appears simple enough. Steal one small box from the
Emperor’s train, live the rest of his days in luxury. Secrets and danger lie in
wait on the rails, and that little box might just bring everything in this
galaxy—and the next—to the end of the line.

FORMAT: Railhead
is the first book in a new YA series. It is a futuristic sci-fi cyberpunk
adventure novel that is filled with action, mystery, and adventure. It all
takes place in a detailed new inter-galactic world that has bug creatures,
droids, royal families, and 'Guardians' which are god-like creatures. Railhead
stands at 356 pages.

Railhead was released in the US on April 1, 2016. It was published by Switch Press. It was released in the UK on October 1, 2015 by Oxford
University Press.

ANALYSIS: It is difficult to find a unique book, especially
when you read a lot. Over time, you become used to the norm and start noticing
that a lot of the books just feel the same. Sure, they have different
characters and a "unique" world, but there isn't really anything
overly unique or creative about any of the elements. That is why a book like Railhead
by Philip Reeve is so refreshing.

Philip Reeve has a true talent when it comes to writing. He
has this amazing ability to take familiar elements that are at the heart of
every novel (things such as romance, quests, discovering yourself, growing up,
coming of age story, etc.) and giving them unique, creative twist. Railhead
is just one of many examples of Philip Reeve's work and it doesn't disappoint.

The first thing that stands out about Railhead is the unique
and very detailed world the novel takes place in. It is a futuristic world
where traveling between planets and galaxies has become a reality

thanks to a
complex travel system known as The Great Network. The Great Network has
different gates and routes that take travelers between worlds on a system of
trains. Think of it as an inter-galactic railway system, because that is
exactly what it is.

Over the course of the book, The Great Network along with
all the worlds within the galaxy starts to develop and take shape. Readers
learn more about the setup of the network, how the network came about, and how
the world and galaxy start to rely upon it for travel. By the end of the book,
you have a true appreciation for just how unique and detailed the world
building is within Railhead.

The pacing of Railhead is amazing. Considering the
amount of detail that goes into the world building, you would think that the
book would be bogged down with lengthy descriptions, but it isn't. The book
moves at a fast pace and the details of the world, who created it, how things
are made are slowly revealed over time.

While I love fast paced books, there is a slight drawback.
It does take some time to get used to the world because it is a
learn-as-you-read type setup. Readers who enjoy just sitting down and knowing
everything about the world and the characters will find it difficult to get
into the book, as it literally is like learning everything all over again and
that takes time.

Character development is something that I love in books. I
love feeling close to the characters and like they are truly alive. I have to say
if anything is rated the weakest it would be character development. It isn't
because the characters don't develop throughout the story or they seem flat, it
is because it did take some time to get to know the characters.

I believe because so much of the book is focused on creating
this amazing, cyber-punk sci-fi world, the characters take a back seat until
about the halfway point of the book. By the end of the book, I became more
invested in the characters and I honestly cannot wait for book 2. Unfortunately,
the inability to really relate to characters until the halfway point or ending
might be a turn-off for readers who want instant connections.

In addition to the amazing world that is created, Philip
Reeve accomplishes the task of creating a diverse book that hits on a lot of
hot topic issues. Topics such as what makes someone human, machines vs. humans
in the workforce, mental health issues, same sex marriages/relationships, gender
identity, wealth distribution, economic growth, what makes someone 'bad', and
other issues are brought up in the book without forcing it down your throat. It
is done in a subtle way that is appropriate. Not everything has to be in your
face and preachy.

I have to say I absolutely love Railhead. It instantly
pulled me into the story and the world, and I didn't really want to leave it.
It was refreshing to see an author take a chance on something that could have
turned out disastrous if not done properly. Luckily, it wasn't and it turned
out to be an amazing, magical story.

I would highly
recommend this book to anyone who is tired of the same old, same old and who
wants to experience something new, exciting and fun.